'''Greninja''' (ゲッコウガ, ''Gekkouga'') was revealed as a newcomer, alongside [[Charizard]]'s return as a veteran, during the ''Super Smash Bros. Wii U/ 3DS Nintendo Direct'', on April 8th, 2014. A Pokémon-themed trailer was shown for both characters.

'''Greninja''' (ゲッコウガ, ''Gekkouga'') was revealed as a newcomer, alongside [[Charizard]]'s return as a veteran, during the ''Super Smash Bros. Wii U/ 3DS Nintendo Direct'', on April 8th, 2014. A Pokémon-themed trailer was shown for both characters.

−

Greninja currently ranks 21st on the [[tier list]]. Although it is a very fast character with a wide variety of attack options, most of its attacks lack range and have fair amounts of lag. It does not possess many reliable KO moves either.

+

Greninja currently ranks 26th on the [[tier list]]. It is a very fast character with a wide variety of attack options and a fast grab. However, most of its attacks lack range and have fair amounts of lag. It does not possess many reliable KO moves either.

==Attributes==

==Attributes==

Line 44:

Line 44:

=== Cons: ===

=== Cons: ===

* Large frame, having big hurtboxes.

* Large frame, having big hurtboxes.

−

* High falling speed, which allied with his high jumping height can sometimes difficult some combos to string together.

+

* High falling speed, which allied with his high jumping height can sometimes make it difficult for some combos to string together.

* Limited options for KO, specially in the air.

* Limited options for KO, specially in the air.

* Weak grabs that cannot KO even at higher percentages.

* Weak grabs that cannot KO even at higher percentages.

Line 157:

Line 157:

==Gallery==

==Gallery==

−

<gallery navigation="true">

+

<gallery>

GreninjaPromopic.jpg|Artwork with Charizard, Pikachu, Mario, Peach, and Toon Link (Note that Mario is in his Fire Mario Costume.)

GreninjaPromopic.jpg|Artwork with Charizard, Pikachu, Mario, Peach, and Toon Link (Note that Mario is in his Fire Mario Costume.)

−

Greninja attack.jpg|Greninja using a water-like katana|link=My home page

+

Greninja attack.jpg|Greninja using a water-like katana

Aqua Jet.gif|His up special, [[Hydro Pump]] in action

Aqua Jet.gif|His up special, [[Hydro Pump]] in action

GreninjascreenKO.png|Greninja being [[Screen KO]]'d

GreninjascreenKO.png|Greninja being [[Screen KO]]'d

Hmm.jpg|[[Pikachu]] dodging one of Greninja's attacks

Hmm.jpg|[[Pikachu]] dodging one of Greninja's attacks

Greninja-night-slash.png|Greninja's Final Smash: Secret Ninja Attack

Greninja-night-slash.png|Greninja's Final Smash: Secret Ninja Attack

−

Greninjajoins.jpg|Greninja makes a splash!

+

Greninjajoins.jpg|Greninja'ssplash screen. Greninja Makes a Splash!

Greninja Red.jpg|One of Greninja's palette swaps

Greninja Red.jpg|One of Greninja's palette swaps

greninja-2.jpg|[[Water Shuriken]] in action

greninja-2.jpg|[[Water Shuriken]] in action

Line 190:

Line 190:

*During the trailer, fans mistook Greninja for [[Mewtwo]] since they both have three fingers. While charging Water Shuriken, Greninja had no webbing in between its fingers and a different torso shape. Because of this, many fans suspect that Sakurai and his team purposely made Greninja seem like Mewtwo to joke around with his audience. This has also transformed into an Internet Meme.

*During the trailer, fans mistook Greninja for [[Mewtwo]] since they both have three fingers. While charging Water Shuriken, Greninja had no webbing in between its fingers and a different torso shape. Because of this, many fans suspect that Sakurai and his team purposely made Greninja seem like Mewtwo to joke around with his audience. This has also transformed into an Internet Meme.

**Another fact about the trailer, after Greninja is revealed and jumps off the tree branch it stands on using hydro-pump, a cloud shaped like [[Pac-Man]] is visible on the upper part of the screen.

**Another fact about the trailer, after Greninja is revealed and jumps off the tree branch it stands on using hydro-pump, a cloud shaped like [[Pac-Man]] is visible on the upper part of the screen.

+

*Despite it's appearance and effects, Water Shuriken cannot be absorbed.

*Due Greninja's massive number of nerfs in the [[Patch Update|balancing patches]] for ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS'' after its release, an internet expression known as "[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/better-nerf-greninja--2 Better Nerf Greninja]" was created as mockingly response from the community.

*Due Greninja's massive number of nerfs in the [[Patch Update|balancing patches]] for ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS'' after its release, an internet expression known as "[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/better-nerf-greninja--2 Better Nerf Greninja]" was created as mockingly response from the community.

Character Statistics

Greninja (ゲッコウガ, Gekkouga) was revealed as a newcomer, alongside Charizard's return as a veteran, during the Super Smash Bros. Wii U/ 3DS Nintendo Direct, on April 8th, 2014. A Pokémon-themed trailer was shown for both characters.

Greninja currently ranks 26th on the tier list. It is a very fast character with a wide variety of attack options and a fast grab. However, most of its attacks lack range and have fair amounts of lag. It does not possess many reliable KO moves either.

Greninja is the Smash Bros. definition of high risk, high reward. Greninja’s speed is unmatched, which allows it to apply an immense amount of pressure on the opponent. Along with its speed, Greninja has solid and fast Smash Attacks and a good aerial game that allows it to put good pressure while on the offensive. Some of its Special Moves can make it fairly unpredictable, as well setting opponents for many follow ups. Greninja’s edge-game is great as well, thanks to its aerial attacks and recovery moves.

Water Shuriken is its main zoning tool. While having considerable startup lag and not being fast and powerful as other charging projectiles, it fully charges faster, and its multi-hits can trap opponents for follow ups. With this in his favor, it can put good pressure for edge-guarding, specially since a fully charged Water Shuriken will hit low on the ground, which can hit an opponent holding the ledge.

Shadow Sneak is its most useful asset, being able to score surprise KOs and dish out considerable damage, pulling effective mind games against its opponents. It is what makes Greninja truly unpredictable, as the only way opponents can tell where it will appear is by looking at its shadow on the ground; something that can be difficult to spot on the heat of the battle, specially on stages with dark colored floor.

Hydro Pump is Greninja's main tool of recovery, which, allied with its very high jumps, allows it to recover from very long distances. While Hydro Pump does not have a front hitbox like Pikachu's Quick Attack (and it's not as fast), it has powerful pushboxes by the which, when used correctly, can prevent opponents from recovering similarly to Mario's F.L.U.D.D.

Substitute is one of the best counters in the game since the player can control Greninja's trajectory and where it will appear from, allowing them to control the knockback angle to an extent; if aimed up, Greninja will appear from below and kick its opponent upwards. It is a powerful Meteor Smash when aiming down, however its ending lag can also cause Greninja to self-destruct if used off platform too close to the bottom blast line.

The downsides begin with Greninja’s recovery options. Greninja’s Substitute can be difficult to control and leaves it completely vulnerable to punishment. Greninja’s counter animation is really slow and is difficult to hit the opponent while in the air. Another shortcoming of Greninja's is its range; it needs to be up close and personal, and ranged characters can really rack up the damage on it. This combined with his considerable high startup and ending lag for some moves makes Greninja a very difficult character to maneuver, specially for combos.

However, Greninja is a character full of small tricks that can be used in its favor. For example, using Hydro Pump's pushboxes to change the character's momentum and prevent them from recovering. This is mostly useful against opponents with poor recovering tactics, such as Little Mac.

Overall, Greninja is a very versatile character, rewarding the player if they can pull off its tricky techniques while distracting and intercepting the opponent at the same time. With all his tricks, it is a very slippery character who can escape tight situations and move around the stage at ease, punishing mistakes with hit and run tactics, rather than charging in against opponents. With his high mobility, it can pull a lot of baits and mindgames that effectively throw opponents off balance.

Side Smash: Slashes with a water sword in a reverse grip manner (14%). Considerable high startup lag. Can be pivot cancelled.

Up Smash: Slashes with water swords upwards on both sides of its head with a reverse grip in an outwards arc. Has a very strong sweetspot at the edge of the blades, when hitting on top (5% - hit 1, 14% - hit 2 clean center, 11% - hit 2 clean sides, 10% - hit 2 late).

Down Smash: Strikes on both sides with water swords, with a reverse grip (13% - swords, 11% - arms).

Neutral Aerial: Enters a ninja pose while blasts a water vortex surrounds it (11% - clean, 6% - late). Good combo starter at low percentages, however has very low range.

Forward Aerial: Slashes with a water sword (14%). Has considerable startup and ending lag, but quite powerful.

Back Aerial: Does three spinning back kicks (3%, 2,5%, 4%). High combo and KO potential. Has very little to no ending and landing lag.

Up Aerial: Does an upwards drill kick that hits 6 times (1,3% - hits 1 to 5, and 3% - hit 6). Similar to Samus and Sheik's Up Aerial, however it only has hitboxes on its leg, as opposed to Sheik's whole body. Can KO at around 150%. Can also be used to pull opponents downwards with fast fall, as the 5th hit acts as a semi-spike.

Down Aerial: A very fast diving stomp with boot feet, which functions as a stall-then-fall and causes Greninja to bounces off enemies if the middle hitbox of the feet connect. However, bouncing off enemies prevents Greninja from using his double jump. Can cause Meteor Smash at the first frames of the attack, much like Toon Link's Down Aerial.

This Water/Dark-type Pokémon is the fully evolved form of Froakie. It's just as fast and dangerous as any other ninja, and the throwing stars it can make out of water can shear metal. In Smash Bros., as well as being a graceful, speedy fighter, it can also use moves like Hydro Pump that let it travel through the air and avoid falling.

Pokémon X and Pokémon Y (10/2013)

Greninja (Alt.)

Greninja's Substitute down special lets you teleport to dodge attacks and then strike back, making it an effective and hard-to-predict way to counterattack. You can also control where you reappear by inputting directions. When you vanish, sometimes you'll be replaced by a log, other times by a cuddly toy.

Pokémon X and Pokémon Y (10/2013)

Secret Ninja Attack

In Greninja's Final Smash, it uses its Mat Block move to flip opponents into the air. It then slices them repeatedly in front of the bright moon before smacking them back down to the ground and launching them. The initial Mat Block flip doesn't have much range, but should it hit home, the rest of the attack is unavoidable.

Greninja's down taunt will actually do damage. This makes it the third character with a taunt that can cause damage. Luigi was the first, also with his down taunt. Snake is the second, where all his taunts can deal damage; although caused by the object he uses (his cardboard box).

Greninja's official artwork for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS has almost the same pose as Ken Sugimori's artwork of it for Pokémon X/Y.

Greninja, Rosalina and Palutena are the only characters to have a unique sidestep; instead of truly sidestepping they disappear for half a second and reappear. Their roll is the same thing.

According to Sakurai, Greninja was already being developed as a playable character before Pokémon X/Y were announced. Sakurai admitted that he and his team had to come with many original moves for Greninja and/or wait for the team behind Pokémon X/Y to give them more info on the gameplay style of the character in development. This led to moves such as Secret Ninja Attack, to be created specially for Smash Bros. This Final Smash also references one of its signature moves in Pokémon X/Y, Mat Block (the other being Water Shuriken). Other than that, the move is entirely new.

Greninja's Final Smash, Secret Ninja Attack, and Zoroark's Fury Swipes both do the exact same thing in Smash Bros.: throw the opponent upward, trap them in the air, swiftly slash them multiple times, and deliver a powerful finishing blow with a Meteor Smash effect.

The multiple attacks Greninja perform could also be a reference to both Quick Attack, that Greninja can learn, although the slashes it does in its Final Smash are water-based.

During the trailer, fans mistook Greninja for Mewtwo since they both have three fingers. While charging Water Shuriken, Greninja had no webbing in between its fingers and a different torso shape. Because of this, many fans suspect that Sakurai and his team purposely made Greninja seem like Mewtwo to joke around with his audience. This has also transformed into an Internet Meme.

Another fact about the trailer, after Greninja is revealed and jumps off the tree branch it stands on using hydro-pump, a cloud shaped like Pac-Man is visible on the upper part of the screen.

Despite it's appearance and effects, Water Shuriken cannot be absorbed.

Due Greninja's massive number of nerfs in the balancing patches for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS after its release, an internet expression known as "Better Nerf Greninja" was created as mockingly response from the community.